On December 19, 2017, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and State Councilor Yang Jiechi held a new round of China-France strategic dialogue with Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of France Philippe Etienne in Beijing.

Yang Jiechi expressed that China-France relations have been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries for a long time. In recent years, bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development. President Xi Jinping and President Emmanuel Macron held telephone talks twice and met in Hamburg, charting the course for the development of China-France relations in the new era. The 19th CPC National Congress has provided new historic opportunities for strengthening exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries. China stands ready to make joint efforts with France to well prepare for high-level exchanges between the two countries in the next phase, so as to inject fresh impetus to China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

Yang Jiechi noted that China regards France as an important partner on its development path in the new era. China is willing to, together with France, further consolidate political mutual trust, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, deepen cooperation in nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, industrial manufacturing, trade and investment, as well as continue cementing coordination and cooperation in international affairs. China hopes France to continue playing an active and constructive role in China-Europe relations.

Philippe Etienne expressed that the 19th CPC National Congress has made an important plan for China's development in the future, which would have profound impact on Europe and the world. France values China's increasingly rising international status and influence and will always regard developing relations with China as a diplomatic priority. France stands ready to work with China to further intensify high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen coordination in international and regional issues as well as jointly safeguard multilateralism, so as to elevate bilateral relations to new highs.